Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott has officially appealed his six-game suspension, according to a source. A hearing must be scheduled within 10 days of the appeal.

Fantasy Tip: This appeal process could take some time, but for now Elliott will miss the Cowboys' first six games of the 2017 season. Darren McFadden makes for a suitable fantasy flex at the least if the suspension holds.

Fantasy Tip: This seems unlikely given how Morris was supposedly fighting for a job less than two weeks ago, but he has shown well through two preseason games. At the very least, it appears as if he is well on his way to locking down a roster spot. Elliott owners who have already made room for McFadden may want to play it safe and try to add Morris as well, but a committee approach would likely make both players flex options at best during Dallas' grueling early schedule.

Fantasy Tip: McFadden and Alfred Morris are the likely candidates to pick up the slack while Elliott is sidelined, but McFadden is still the more attractive option. He will have RB2 potential, especially in PPR formats. Morris should be owned in case McFadden struggles or is injured.

Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott and his representatives released a statement announcing their intentions to appeal the six-game suspension handed to him Friday, Aug. 11 for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.

Fantasy Tip: As it stands currently, Elliott is expected to be suspended until Week 8 - an Oct. 29 game against the Washington Redskins. Speculating about how much his suspension could be reduced at this point would be foolish, but there is definitely a chance of it happening. Risk-taking owners can use this opportunity to get Elliott on the cheap, as even a two-game reduction would make it more palatable for him to go on the second round of fantasy drafts. Expect plenty more updates in the coming days and weeks.

Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott has been suspended six games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, according to a source. Elliott is expected to file an appeal and has three business days to do so, and a hearing must be scheduled within 10 days of receipt of the notice, according to Article 46 of the collective bargaining agreement.

Fantasy Tip: With the Cowboys' bye landing on Week 6, Elliott will not unable to play until Week 8 against the Washington Redskins, pending the appeal. For fantasy football purposes, Elliott should now drop out of the first round of draft and perhaps into the third round or later, while backup Darren McFadden could be considered a low-end RB1 for however long Elliott must sit out should his suspension be reduced.

Updating an ongoing story, Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott is expected to be suspended, as one league source characterized the suspension as "definite." NFL Network's Jane Slater has also heard the length is closer to the six-game benchmark.

Fantasy Tip: A decision could come Friday, Aug. 11, or it could trickle into next week. There is also an appeals process, which as we learned with Tom Brady the last two years, could prolong the process. A four-to-six-game ban would heavily diminish Elliott's fantasy stock and promote Darren McFadden to potentially an RB3. Zeke would be an RB2 commodity, and you'd need to secure a safe RB3 to use in his place in the meantime.